World Cup legend Romario has blasted the 2014 contest and urged Brazilians to protest during the tournament.

The striker-turned-politician is furious billions are being spent on stadiums instead of crumbling hospitals and schools.

And he lashed out at his fellow Brazil football heroes Ronaldo and Bebeto, branding them both “ignorant” for their support of the 2014 World Cup.

Asked if the demonstrations staged this summer would be seen again, he said: “Not only do I think they will return, I think they SHOULD return.

“There will be a World Cup here next year, we know that. But this, these demonstrations, is the way you make politicians wake up.”

Romario, elected as a congressman in 2010, said: “You see hospitals with no beds. You see hospitals with people on the floor.

“You see schools that don’t have lunch for the kids. You see schools with no air-conditioning, where kids are going to school in 45 degrees Celsius. You see buildings and schools with no accessibility for people who are handicapped.

“If you spend 30% less on the stadiums, they’d be able to improve the other things that actually matter.”

Romario, 47, who was the Player of the Tournament when Brazil won the World Cup in 1994, turned his guns on Ronaldo and Bebeto, both ambassadors for next year’s event.

Referring to Ronaldo, who said that “you host World Cups with stadiums, not hospitals”, Romario sneered: “Ignorant. Either Ronaldo and Bebeto aren’t aware of what is going on, or they are pretending they aren’t aware of what is going on.”

Romario added: “Nobody tells me to close my mouth because they know it will never happen.”